The Project

Vision, Mission, Objectives

Vision: By understanding the inherent worth and
dignity of every being, Unitarian Universalists live deeply in joy and
compassion, nourishing themselves as they nurture, care for, and protect the
many others in a multispecies world.

Mission: Unitarian Universalists and their
congregations develop and institute programs and processes to facilitate
ongoing transformation within individuals, within Unitarian Universalist
congregations, organizations, ministries, and within the greater community,
bringing healing, wholeness, belonging, justice and flourishing as they alleviate
the interlocking oppressions that arise from seeing and treating others as
lacking inherent worth and dignity.

The Goals:

1. The Conversation: Invite as many Unitarian Universalists as
possible into a conversation about the religious, spiritual, and ethical
aspects of living in a multispecies world.
One question we ask: How do we
understand reality and what is our response to this?

2. Changing Ourselves: Guide Unitarian Universalists as they seek to
improve their ability to participant in and sustain these discussions, reflect
more deeply and broadly about what it means to be compassionate in a
multispecies world, and in so doing, augment their faith development[1],
deepen their spiritual lives, and empower their compassionate behavior at the
individual and collective level.

3. Changing the Principle: Change the First Principle to “the inherent
worth and dignity of every being.”
Seeking to change the First Principle contributes to the accomplishment
of goals 1 & 2, and goals 1 and 2 contribute to goal #3.. If there is an actual change to this
principle or to any others in regards to multispecies living, then the changed
principle(s) will continue to contribute to goals 1 and 2.

4. Changing the First Principle Project:
This is an ever changing project, seeking to reflect the wisdom of those who
gather around this vision and mission.
As such, this document will change periodically, as might the goals. You and your congregation's input is most
welcome, including feedback on this document and on any of the other materials
and online resources available. To
comment, please contact Rev. LoraKim Joyner at amoloros@gmail.com.

[1] "Faith," as Karen Armstrong points
out, in the New Testament, is the Gerek word psistis, which means trust, loyalty, engagement, commitment. When
Jesus calls for greater faith, he's not calling for people to cling harder to a
set of propositional beliefs. He's calling for engagement and commitment, which
is also the goal of the First Principle Project.